Management of the critically ill patient in the emergency department: focus on safety issues.

The management of the critically ill patient in the emergency department (ED) is an evolving process. Currently there is sufficient evidence substantiating the central role of the ED in the management of critically ill patients. Understanding the tremendous impact ED physicians have in the care of critically ill patients will serve as an impetus for emergency medicine residents to pursue critical care specialty. With the continuous increment of critically ill patients presenting to EDs throughout the country, the nationwide shortage of critical care physicians, and the limited availability of intensive care unit eds throughout hospital systems, there will be an increased focus on managing these patients in the ED. As the field of emergency medicine continues to mature, the ED physician must take notice of the potential risk areas within the management of the critically ill patient to continue to improve these patients' short- and long-term survival.